Sec 1

Direction (1-4): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

. . .[The] loose collection of tales known, in English, as “Arabian Nights,” [is] narrated in an electric new
translation, Tales from 1001 Nights, by the British Syrian poet Yasmine Seale. Beyond the frame tale and a few
core stories, there is little agreement on what belongs in the “Nights.” The collection has no single authoritative
manuscript. No known author. As the scholar Paulo Lemos Horta, the editor of this new edition, explains in an
introduction, we know a book by its name was circulating, in Cairo, as early as the twelfth century, but that copy
has never been found. The most famous manuscript—the “Syrian” manuscript, as it’s known to scholars—comes
from the fourteenth or fifteenth century, and there is a fragment of a manuscript from the ninth century, believed
to be an early adaptation from Persian. Most frustratingly, no Arabic manuscripts for the stories that most
people know—“Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp,” “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” “Prince Ahmad and the Fairy
Pari Banu”—seem to exist. Their first known printing was in French, in the eighteenth century, by the Orientalist
scholar Antoine Galland, and he was long believed to be their legitimate author.

Without an Arabic text to work from, contemporary translators often resist including these popular tales in their
work. Seale and Horta take a different approach. For some time now, it’s been known that the French stories
have an Arabic source, a man Galland met in 1709. At the time, Galland had come out with seven volumes of his
“Nights” translation, which were based largely on the Syrian manuscript. (A friend gave him the document in
1701.) The books sold terrifically well, and Galland’s publisher pestered him for more—but he had reached the
end of his manuscript and was at a loss for material. That spring, at a friend’s apartment, Galland was
introduced to Hanna Diyab, a traveller from Aleppo who knew some “beautiful Arabic tales,” as Galland wrote in
his diary. In the course of a month, Diyab told his stories, and Galland scribbled them down. (Galland’s notes
survive.) Diyab never indicated that these stories were part of the “Nights.” He never explained whether he’d
heard them somewhere or whether he’d made them up.

Diyab’s memoirs were rediscovered in the Vatican Library in 1993 and published, in French, in 2015. They were
finally released in English last spring. Horta and Seale’s volume, in turn, pairs Diyab’s stories with a collection of
the most influential tales from Arabic manuscripts. Each page is adorned with illustrations and photographs
from other translations and adaptations of the tales, as well as a wonderfully detailed cascade of notes that
illuminate the stories and their settings. . .

Translations of “Nights” have had many devoted readers, from Marcel Proust to Charles Dickens, James Joyce
to Charlotte Brontë. But the stories never held much stature among Arabists. The originals are often written in
what’s considered “Middle Arabic,” and they’ve rarely been embraced by the classical canon. “It is Arabic, and at
the same time, it is not,” one scholar Horta cites insisted in 1956. “Every connoisseur of the genuinely Arabic will
feel in the complex whole of the modern ‘1001 Nights’ something diluted, impoverished, superficial and
fictitious.” . . .

Q.1 [11831809]
“Every connoisseur of the genuinely Arabic will feel in the complex whole of the modern ‘1001 Nights’
something diluted, impoverished, superficial and fictitious.” In light of the passage, which one of the following is
the best interpretation of this quote by Horta?

1 Arabists do not consider the modern translations of “Nights” from non-Arabic sources genuine.

2 Connoisseurs of Arabic do not ascribe to complexities in the modern translations of “Arabic Nights.”
3 The most authentic version of translations of “Nights” are the ones from original Arabic sources.

4 Modern translations like ‘1001 Nights’ do not stand up to the scrutiny of authentic Arabic sources.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 1
Correct Answer – (1)
Option (1) offers the best explanation of the given quotation. During the process
of translation, the essence of the texts most likely got diluted and that is what the quoted sentence says.

Incorrect answers
Option (2) does not address the quoted sentence. It is superfluous.
Option (3) goes against the meaning of the quoted sentence.
Option (4) is out of scope. At a first glance, it might appear to explain the quoted sentence but option (1) is
more specific and hence, the correct answer is option (1).
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Direction (1-4): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

. . .[The] loose collection of tales known, in English, as “Arabian Nights,” [is] narrated in an electric new
translation, Tales from 1001 Nights, by the British Syrian poet Yasmine Seale. Beyond the frame tale and a few
core stories, there is little agreement on what belongs in the “Nights.” The collection has no single authoritative
manuscript. No known author. As the scholar Paulo Lemos Horta, the editor of this new edition, explains in an
introduction, we know a book by its name was circulating, in Cairo, as early as the twelfth century, but that copy
has never been found. The most famous manuscript—the “Syrian” manuscript, as it’s known to scholars—comes
from the fourteenth or fifteenth century, and there is a fragment of a manuscript from the ninth century, believed
to be an early adaptation from Persian. Most frustratingly, no Arabic manuscripts for the stories that most
people know—“Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp,” “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” “Prince Ahmad and the Fairy
Pari Banu”—seem to exist. Their first known printing was in French, in the eighteenth century, by the Orientalist
scholar Antoine Galland, and he was long believed to be their legitimate author.

Without an Arabic text to work from, contemporary translators often resist including these popular tales in their
work. Seale and Horta take a different approach. For some time now, it’s been known that the French stories
have an Arabic source, a man Galland met in 1709. At the time, Galland had come out with seven volumes of his
“Nights” translation, which were based largely on the Syrian manuscript. (A friend gave him the document in
1701.) The books sold terrifically well, and Galland’s publisher pestered him for more—but he had reached the
end of his manuscript and was at a loss for material. That spring, at a friend’s apartment, Galland was
introduced to Hanna Diyab, a traveller from Aleppo who knew some “beautiful Arabic tales,” as Galland wrote in
his diary. In the course of a month, Diyab told his stories, and Galland scribbled them down. (Galland’s notes
survive.) Diyab never indicated that these stories were part of the “Nights.” He never explained whether he’d
heard them somewhere or whether he’d made them up.

Diyab’s memoirs were rediscovered in the Vatican Library in 1993 and published, in French, in 2015. They were
finally released in English last spring. Horta and Seale’s volume, in turn, pairs Diyab’s stories with a collection of
the most influential tales from Arabic manuscripts. Each page is adorned with illustrations and photographs
from other translations and adaptations of the tales, as well as a wonderfully detailed cascade of notes that
illuminate the stories and their settings. . .

Translations of “Nights” have had many devoted readers, from Marcel Proust to Charles Dickens, James Joyce
to Charlotte Brontë. But the stories never held much stature among Arabists. The originals are often written in
what’s considered “Middle Arabic,” and they’ve rarely been embraced by the classical canon. “It is Arabic, and at
the same time, it is not,” one scholar Horta cites insisted in 1956. “Every connoisseur of the genuinely Arabic will
feel in the complex whole of the modern ‘1001 Nights’ something diluted, impoverished, superficial and
fictitious.” . . .

Q.2 [11831809]
This book review argues that according to Paulo Lemos Horta, the reliable manuscript of “Nights”:

1 may have existed in Cairo.

2 is completely unknown.

3 can be traced back to Syria.

4 may have been written after the 14th century.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 2
Your Answer : 1
Correct Answer – (2)
Refer to the first paragraph, especially, the sentence: “Most frustratingly, no Arabic manuscripts for the stories
that most people know—“Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp,” “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” “Prince Ahmad
and the Fairy Pari Banu”—seem to exist.” Therefore, option (2) is correct.

Incorrect answers
The remaining answers are factually incorrect in the light of the passage.
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Direction (1-4): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

. . .[The] loose collection of tales known, in English, as “Arabian Nights,” [is] narrated in an electric new
translation, Tales from 1001 Nights, by the British Syrian poet Yasmine Seale. Beyond the frame tale and a few
core stories, there is little agreement on what belongs in the “Nights.” The collection has no single authoritative
manuscript. No known author. As the scholar Paulo Lemos Horta, the editor of this new edition, explains in an
introduction, we know a book by its name was circulating, in Cairo, as early as the twelfth century, but that copy
has never been found. The most famous manuscript—the “Syrian” manuscript, as it’s known to scholars—comes
from the fourteenth or fifteenth century, and there is a fragment of a manuscript from the ninth century, believed
to be an early adaptation from Persian. Most frustratingly, no Arabic manuscripts for the stories that most
people know—“Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp,” “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” “Prince Ahmad and the Fairy
Pari Banu”—seem to exist. Their first known printing was in French, in the eighteenth century, by the Orientalist
scholar Antoine Galland, and he was long believed to be their legitimate author.

Without an Arabic text to work from, contemporary translators often resist including these popular tales in their
work. Seale and Horta take a different approach. For some time now, it’s been known that the French stories
have an Arabic source, a man Galland met in 1709. At the time, Galland had come out with seven volumes of his
“Nights” translation, which were based largely on the Syrian manuscript. (A friend gave him the document in
1701.) The books sold terrifically well, and Galland’s publisher pestered him for more—but he had reached the
end of his manuscript and was at a loss for material. That spring, at a friend’s apartment, Galland was
introduced to Hanna Diyab, a traveller from Aleppo who knew some “beautiful Arabic tales,” as Galland wrote in
his diary. In the course of a month, Diyab told his stories, and Galland scribbled them down. (Galland’s notes
survive.) Diyab never indicated that these stories were part of the “Nights.” He never explained whether he’d
heard them somewhere or whether he’d made them up.

Diyab’s memoirs were rediscovered in the Vatican Library in 1993 and published, in French, in 2015. They were
finally released in English last spring. Horta and Seale’s volume, in turn, pairs Diyab’s stories with a collection of
the most influential tales from Arabic manuscripts. Each page is adorned with illustrations and photographs
from other translations and adaptations of the tales, as well as a wonderfully detailed cascade of notes that
illuminate the stories and their settings. . .

Translations of “Nights” have had many devoted readers, from Marcel Proust to Charles Dickens, James Joyce
to Charlotte Brontë. But the stories never held much stature among Arabists. The originals are often written in
what’s considered “Middle Arabic,” and they’ve rarely been embraced by the classical canon. “It is Arabic, and at
the same time, it is not,” one scholar Horta cites insisted in 1956. “Every connoisseur of the genuinely Arabic will
feel in the complex whole of the modern ‘1001 Nights’ something diluted, impoverished, superficial and
fictitious.” . . .

Q.3 [11831809]
None of the following is an accurate interpretation of the information given in the passage about Antoine
Galland, EXCEPT:

1 he initially resisted publishing the translations of “Nights” because there we no Arabic text to work from.

2 the tales that Hanna Diyab related to him were ones that Hanna Diyab had invented on his own.

3 his publishers did not care about the accuracy of the “Nights” translations they published.
4 some of his translations of “Nights” did not have any known Arabic manuscript as the source material.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 4
Your Answer : 2
Correct Answer – (4)
Option (4) is true in the light of the passage. Refer to: “Diyab told his stories, and Galland scribbled them
down. (Galland’s notes survive.) Diyab never indicated that these stories were part of the “Nights.” He never
explained whether he’d heard them somewhere or whether he’d made them up.”

Incorrect answers
Option (1) is incorrect in the light of the passage.
Option (2) is uncertain. Refer to the last sentence of the second paragraph.
Option (3) is again superfluous and therefore, not the answer.
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Direction (1-4): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

. . .[The] loose collection of tales known, in English, as “Arabian Nights,” [is] narrated in an electric new
translation, Tales from 1001 Nights, by the British Syrian poet Yasmine Seale. Beyond the frame tale and a few
core stories, there is little agreement on what belongs in the “Nights.” The collection has no single authoritative
manuscript. No known author. As the scholar Paulo Lemos Horta, the editor of this new edition, explains in an
introduction, we know a book by its name was circulating, in Cairo, as early as the twelfth century, but that copy
has never been found. The most famous manuscript—the “Syrian” manuscript, as it’s known to scholars—comes
from the fourteenth or fifteenth century, and there is a fragment of a manuscript from the ninth century, believed
to be an early adaptation from Persian. Most frustratingly, no Arabic manuscripts for the stories that most
people know—“Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp,” “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves,” “Prince Ahmad and the Fairy
Pari Banu”—seem to exist. Their first known printing was in French, in the eighteenth century, by the Orientalist
scholar Antoine Galland, and he was long believed to be their legitimate author.

Without an Arabic text to work from, contemporary translators often resist including these popular tales in their
work. Seale and Horta take a different approach. For some time now, it’s been known that the French stories
have an Arabic source, a man Galland met in 1709. At the time, Galland had come out with seven volumes of his
“Nights” translation, which were based largely on the Syrian manuscript. (A friend gave him the document in
1701.) The books sold terrifically well, and Galland’s publisher pestered him for more—but he had reached the
end of his manuscript and was at a loss for material. That spring, at a friend’s apartment, Galland was
introduced to Hanna Diyab, a traveller from Aleppo who knew some “beautiful Arabic tales,” as Galland wrote in
his diary. In the course of a month, Diyab told his stories, and Galland scribbled them down. (Galland’s notes
survive.) Diyab never indicated that these stories were part of the “Nights.” He never explained whether he’d
heard them somewhere or whether he’d made them up.

Diyab’s memoirs were rediscovered in the Vatican Library in 1993 and published, in French, in 2015. They were
finally released in English last spring. Horta and Seale’s volume, in turn, pairs Diyab’s stories with a collection of
the most influential tales from Arabic manuscripts. Each page is adorned with illustrations and photographs
from other translations and adaptations of the tales, as well as a wonderfully detailed cascade of notes that
illuminate the stories and their settings. . .

Translations of “Nights” have had many devoted readers, from Marcel Proust to Charles Dickens, James Joyce
to Charlotte Brontë. But the stories never held much stature among Arabists. The originals are often written in
what’s considered “Middle Arabic,” and they’ve rarely been embraced by the classical canon. “It is Arabic, and at
the same time, it is not,” one scholar Horta cites insisted in 1956. “Every connoisseur of the genuinely Arabic will
feel in the complex whole of the modern ‘1001 Nights’ something diluted, impoverished, superficial and
fictitious.” . . .

Q.4 [11831809]
Each of the following can be inferred about Tales from 1001 Nights EXCEPT:

1 lack of Arabic text to work from was not a concern for its creators.

2 it provides information that sheds light on the stories in their context.

3 It has invited the vituperations from contemporary Arabic scholars.

4 the stories are drawn from more than one source material.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 3
Your Answer : 3
Correct Answer – (3)
Option (3) is the answer because contemporary Arabic scholars never abused Tales from 1001 Nights.

Incorrect answers
Option (1) cannot be the answer. Refer to: “Most frustratingly, no Arabic manuscripts for the stories that most
people know ....”
Option (2) cannot be the answer. Refer to the third paragraph.
Option (4) cannot be the answer. Refer to the first, second and third paragraphs. Option (4) is factually
incorrect.
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Direction (5-8): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

Penguins, with their upright stance and dinner-jacket plumage, constitute a distinct and unmistakable order of
birds (Sphenisciformes). Granted there are a few embellishments here and there — the odd crest, a black line or
two on the chest — but otherwise, penguins conform to a very conservative body plan. The design of penguins
is largely constrained by their commitment to an aquatic lifestyle. Penguins have essentially returned to the sea
from which their ancestors, and those of all tetrapods, came. In that sense, they share more in common with
seals and sea turtles than they do with other birds. Their spindle-shaped bodies and virtually everything about
them have evolved in response to the demands of living in water.

The loss of flight associated with their aquatic makeover is the penguins’ most telling modification. While
isolated examples of flightlessness can be found in virtually all other groups of waterbirds, penguins are the
only group in which all members cannot fly. Among birds generally, they share that distinction only with the
ratites (the kiwis, ostriches, emus, and their ilk), where flight has been sacrificed for large size and running
speed.

Despite earlier claims to the contrary, it is clear that penguins have evolved from flying birds. The evidence from
morphological and molecular studies suggests that penguins are closely related to loons (Gaviiformes), petrels,
and albatrosses (Procellariiformes), and at least some families of the Pelicaniformes, most notably frigate-
birds. Despite this, the exact nature of the relationship between penguins and these groups remains unresolved:
at the moment, it would seem to be a dead heat between loons and petrels as to which group is the sister taxon
of penguins. (On the surface, loons may seem strange candidates to be so closely allied to penguins – penguins
are found in the Southern Hemisphere, loons in the Northern Hemisphere; penguins are wing-propelled divers,
loons are foot-propelled divers. However, it seems that loons, or their ancestors, were wing-propelled divers in
their past.)

If the relationship between penguins to other birds seems confusing and controversial, the relationships
between penguins themselves are no less so. Penguins are confined to the Southern Hemisphere, and the
distribution of fossilized penguin bones discovered to date mirrors their present-day distribution. Fossils have
been found in New Zealand, Australia, South America, South Africa, and islands off the Antarctic Peninsula. The
oldest confirmed fossil penguins have been described from late Eocene deposits in New Zealand and Australia,
dating back some 40 million years. However, fossils from Waipara, New Zealand, unearthed from late
Paleocene/early Eocene deposits that are about 50–60 million years old, represent possibly the earliest penguin
remains. These have still to be described fully, but they show a mixture of attributes from flying birds and those
of penguins (the bones are heavy and nonpneumatic; the wing bones are flattened in a way that is consistent
with being a wing-propelled diver). The Waipara fossils may very well be near the base of the penguin radiation,
when the transition was being made from flyer to swimmer. In any case, by 40 million years ago, penguins were
already very specialized, in much the same way as modern penguins, for underwater swimming.

Q.5 [11831809]
All of the following, if true, would reinforce the author’s assertions regarding the evolution of penguins EXCEPT:

1 penguin’s once-flight-adapted wings became more efficient for swimming and lost the ability to fly.

2 60 million years ago, penguins likely weren't entirely flightless, as flightless birds have low trophic web
resilience.
3 genetic analyses indicate that members of the Spheniscidae family, the present penguins, evolved from
non-flying birds.

4 penguins’ swimming necessities brought them structural changes since they no longer needed to fly for
food.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 3
Your Answer : 2
Correct Answer – (3)
The passage begins with stating that, ‘Penguins, with their upright stance and dinner-jacket plumage,
constitute a distinct and unmistakable order of birds (Sphenisciformes)’. Thus their family is asserted. The
passage though further mentions that, ‘Despite earlier claims to the contrary, it is clear that penguins have
evolved from flying birds. The evidence from morphological and molecular studies suggests that penguins are
closely related to loons (Gaviiformes), petrels, and albatrosses (Procellariiformes), and at least some families
of the Pelicaniformes, most notably frigate-birds.’ Hence, 3 is not true.

Incorrect Answers:
(1) – Other than their associations with the loons who were great divers the passage ends with, ‘In any case,
by 40 million years ago, penguins were already very specialized, in much the same way as modern penguins,
for underwater swimming.’ Thus, 1 is true.

(2) – is true since, ‘However, fossils from Waipara, New Zealand, unearthed from late Paleocene/early Eocene
deposits that are about 50–60 million years old, represent possibly the earliest penguin remains. These have
still to be described fully, but they show a mixture of attributes from flying birds and those of penguins’

(4) – is true since, ‘Their spindle-shaped bodies and virtually everything about them have evolved in response
to the demands of living in water.’
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Direction (5-8): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

Penguins, with their upright stance and dinner-jacket plumage, constitute a distinct and unmistakable order of
birds (Sphenisciformes). Granted there are a few embellishments here and there — the odd crest, a black line or
two on the chest — but otherwise, penguins conform to a very conservative body plan. The design of penguins
is largely constrained by their commitment to an aquatic lifestyle. Penguins have essentially returned to the sea
from which their ancestors, and those of all tetrapods, came. In that sense, they share more in common with
seals and sea turtles than they do with other birds. Their spindle-shaped bodies and virtually everything about
them have evolved in response to the demands of living in water.

The loss of flight associated with their aquatic makeover is the penguins’ most telling modification. While
isolated examples of flightlessness can be found in virtually all other groups of waterbirds, penguins are the
only group in which all members cannot fly. Among birds generally, they share that distinction only with the
ratites (the kiwis, ostriches, emus, and their ilk), where flight has been sacrificed for large size and running
speed.

Despite earlier claims to the contrary, it is clear that penguins have evolved from flying birds. The evidence from
morphological and molecular studies suggests that penguins are closely related to loons (Gaviiformes), petrels,
and albatrosses (Procellariiformes), and at least some families of the Pelicaniformes, most notably frigate-
birds. Despite this, the exact nature of the relationship between penguins and these groups remains unresolved:
at the moment, it would seem to be a dead heat between loons and petrels as to which group is the sister taxon
of penguins. (On the surface, loons may seem strange candidates to be so closely allied to penguins – penguins
are found in the Southern Hemisphere, loons in the Northern Hemisphere; penguins are wing-propelled divers,
loons are foot-propelled divers. However, it seems that loons, or their ancestors, were wing-propelled divers in
their past.)

If the relationship between penguins to other birds seems confusing and controversial, the relationships
between penguins themselves are no less so. Penguins are confined to the Southern Hemisphere, and the
distribution of fossilized penguin bones discovered to date mirrors their present-day distribution. Fossils have
been found in New Zealand, Australia, South America, South Africa, and islands off the Antarctic Peninsula. The
oldest confirmed fossil penguins have been described from late Eocene deposits in New Zealand and Australia,
dating back some 40 million years. However, fossils from Waipara, New Zealand, unearthed from late
Paleocene/early Eocene deposits that are about 50–60 million years old, represent possibly the earliest penguin
remains. These have still to be described fully, but they show a mixture of attributes from flying birds and those
of penguins (the bones are heavy and nonpneumatic; the wing bones are flattened in a way that is consistent
with being a wing-propelled diver). The Waipara fossils may very well be near the base of the penguin radiation,
when the transition was being made from flyer to swimmer. In any case, by 40 million years ago, penguins were
already very specialized, in much the same way as modern penguins, for underwater swimming.

Q.6 [11831809]
If the information provided in the passage is true, which one of the following must be false?

1 No birds other than penguins have all their members who cannot fly.

2 Penguins adapted to be as efficient swimmers as today, no less than 30 million years ago.

3 All of the options listed here

4 During their evolution, loons may have changed how they dive on water.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 1
Your Answer : 4
Correct Answer – (1)
Looking at the second paragraph, ‘The loss of flight associated with their aquatic makeover is the penguins’
most telling modification. While isolated examples of flightlessness can be found in virtually all other groups
of waterbirds, penguins are the only group in which all members cannot fly. Among birds generally, they share
that distinction only with the ratites (the kiwis, ostriches, emus, and their ilk), where flight has been sacrificed
for large size and running speed.’ The ratities as mentioned share this trait along with the penguins. Thus, (1)
is false.

Incorrect Answers:
(2) – The last line of the passage, ‘In any case, by 40 million years ago, penguins were already very
specialized, in much the same way as modern penguins, for underwater swimming.’ Makes the option an
incorrect one.
(4) – The passage states that, ‘However, it seems that loons, or their ancestors, were wing-propelled divers in
their past.’ This hints at a definite change. Thus, 4 is true.
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Direction (5-8): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

Penguins, with their upright stance and dinner-jacket plumage, constitute a distinct and unmistakable order of
birds (Sphenisciformes). Granted there are a few embellishments here and there — the odd crest, a black line or
two on the chest — but otherwise, penguins conform to a very conservative body plan. The design of penguins
is largely constrained by their commitment to an aquatic lifestyle. Penguins have essentially returned to the sea
from which their ancestors, and those of all tetrapods, came. In that sense, they share more in common with
seals and sea turtles than they do with other birds. Their spindle-shaped bodies and virtually everything about
them have evolved in response to the demands of living in water.

The loss of flight associated with their aquatic makeover is the penguins’ most telling modification. While
isolated examples of flightlessness can be found in virtually all other groups of waterbirds, penguins are the
only group in which all members cannot fly. Among birds generally, they share that distinction only with the
ratites (the kiwis, ostriches, emus, and their ilk), where flight has been sacrificed for large size and running
speed.

Despite earlier claims to the contrary, it is clear that penguins have evolved from flying birds. The evidence from
morphological and molecular studies suggests that penguins are closely related to loons (Gaviiformes), petrels,
and albatrosses (Procellariiformes), and at least some families of the Pelicaniformes, most notably frigate-
birds. Despite this, the exact nature of the relationship between penguins and these groups remains unresolved:
at the moment, it would seem to be a dead heat between loons and petrels as to which group is the sister taxon
of penguins. (On the surface, loons may seem strange candidates to be so closely allied to penguins – penguins
are found in the Southern Hemisphere, loons in the Northern Hemisphere; penguins are wing-propelled divers,
loons are foot-propelled divers. However, it seems that loons, or their ancestors, were wing-propelled divers in
their past.)

If the relationship between penguins to other birds seems confusing and controversial, the relationships
between penguins themselves are no less so. Penguins are confined to the Southern Hemisphere, and the
distribution of fossilized penguin bones discovered to date mirrors their present-day distribution. Fossils have
been found in New Zealand, Australia, South America, South Africa, and islands off the Antarctic Peninsula. The
oldest confirmed fossil penguins have been described from late Eocene deposits in New Zealand and Australia,
dating back some 40 million years. However, fossils from Waipara, New Zealand, unearthed from late
Paleocene/early Eocene deposits that are about 50–60 million years old, represent possibly the earliest penguin
remains. These have still to be described fully, but they show a mixture of attributes from flying birds and those
of penguins (the bones are heavy and nonpneumatic; the wing bones are flattened in a way that is consistent
with being a wing-propelled diver). The Waipara fossils may very well be near the base of the penguin radiation,
when the transition was being made from flyer to swimmer. In any case, by 40 million years ago, penguins were
already very specialized, in much the same way as modern penguins, for underwater swimming.

Q.7 [11831809]
The fossil evidence mentioned in the last paragraph is most useful in answering which one of the following
questions?

1 What is the exact nature of the relationship between penguins and other birds?

2 Have the penguins ever lived in areas other than where they are presently found?
3 What are the anatomical similarities of different species of penguins?

4 At what point in history did penguins become completely flightless birds?

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 2
Your Answer : 4
Correct Answer – (2)
The last paragraph mentions that, ‘Penguins are confined to the Southern Hemisphere, and the distribution of
fossilized penguin bones discovered to date mirrors their present-day distribution. Fossils have been found in
New Zealand, Australia, South America, South Africa, and islands off the Antarctic Peninsula. The oldest
confirmed fossil penguins have been described from late Eocene deposits in New Zealand and Australia,
dating back some 40 million years. However, fossils from Waipara, New Zealand, unearthed from late
Paleocene/early Eocene deposits that are about 50–60 million years old, represent possibly the earliest
penguin remains.’ This shift and spread makes the (2) the correct choice.

Incorrect Answers:
The other options do not ask pertinent questions which can be revealed through the contents of the last
paragraph.
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Direction (5-8): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

Penguins, with their upright stance and dinner-jacket plumage, constitute a distinct and unmistakable order of
birds (Sphenisciformes). Granted there are a few embellishments here and there — the odd crest, a black line or
two on the chest — but otherwise, penguins conform to a very conservative body plan. The design of penguins
is largely constrained by their commitment to an aquatic lifestyle. Penguins have essentially returned to the sea
from which their ancestors, and those of all tetrapods, came. In that sense, they share more in common with
seals and sea turtles than they do with other birds. Their spindle-shaped bodies and virtually everything about
them have evolved in response to the demands of living in water.

The loss of flight associated with their aquatic makeover is the penguins’ most telling modification. While
isolated examples of flightlessness can be found in virtually all other groups of waterbirds, penguins are the
only group in which all members cannot fly. Among birds generally, they share that distinction only with the
ratites (the kiwis, ostriches, emus, and their ilk), where flight has been sacrificed for large size and running
speed.

Despite earlier claims to the contrary, it is clear that penguins have evolved from flying birds. The evidence from
morphological and molecular studies suggests that penguins are closely related to loons (Gaviiformes), petrels,
and albatrosses (Procellariiformes), and at least some families of the Pelicaniformes, most notably frigate-
birds. Despite this, the exact nature of the relationship between penguins and these groups remains unresolved:
at the moment, it would seem to be a dead heat between loons and petrels as to which group is the sister taxon
of penguins. (On the surface, loons may seem strange candidates to be so closely allied to penguins – penguins
are found in the Southern Hemisphere, loons in the Northern Hemisphere; penguins are wing-propelled divers,
loons are foot-propelled divers. However, it seems that loons, or their ancestors, were wing-propelled divers in
their past.)

If the relationship between penguins to other birds seems confusing and controversial, the relationships
between penguins themselves are no less so. Penguins are confined to the Southern Hemisphere, and the
distribution of fossilized penguin bones discovered to date mirrors their present-day distribution. Fossils have
been found in New Zealand, Australia, South America, South Africa, and islands off the Antarctic Peninsula. The
oldest confirmed fossil penguins have been described from late Eocene deposits in New Zealand and Australia,
dating back some 40 million years. However, fossils from Waipara, New Zealand, unearthed from late
Paleocene/early Eocene deposits that are about 50–60 million years old, represent possibly the earliest penguin
remains. These have still to be described fully, but they show a mixture of attributes from flying birds and those
of penguins (the bones are heavy and nonpneumatic; the wing bones are flattened in a way that is consistent
with being a wing-propelled diver). The Waipara fossils may very well be near the base of the penguin radiation,
when the transition was being made from flyer to swimmer. In any case, by 40 million years ago, penguins were
already very specialized, in much the same way as modern penguins, for underwater swimming.

Q.8 [11831809]
“Penguins have essentially returned to the sea from which their ancestors, and those of all tetrapods, came.”
Which other sentence from the passage most supports the contention made in this sentence?

1 “If the relationship between penguins to other birds seems confusing and controversial, the relationships
between penguins themselves are no less so.”

2 “The design of penguins is largely constrained by their commitment to an aquatic lifestyle.”

3 “The evidence from morphological and molecular studies suggests that penguins are closely related to
loons (Gaviiformes), petrels, and albatrosses (Procellariiformes), and at least some families of the
Pelicaniformes, most notably frigate-birds.”

4 “The Waipara fossils may very well be near the base of the penguin radiation, when the transition was
being made from flyer to swimmer.”

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 4
Your Answer : 4
Correct Answer – (4)
(4) provided an evolutionary evidence of the shift that penguins experienced in becoming aquatic. Thus it
supports the sentence given.

Incorrect Answers:
(1) – While the given setnce is a fact based assertion, (1) creates an opposition among the nature of penguins.
Thus it does not support the quote.
(2) – It talks about constraints and design of penguins. The given sentence is about their evolutionary
position.
(3) – This finds similarities with other birds rather than primordial organisms.
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Direction (9-12): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

Small business is the hero of modern capitalism. Owners of small firms are the virtuous strivers, the job
creators and the plucky entrepreneurs who drive the economy. . . The proverbial Main Street proprietors get a lot
of love in a world of international conglomerates and global capital.

For all the enthusiasm, a central puzzle remains: what is the role of small businesses in the economy? Is looking
out for small businesses a progressive goal? Surely, the public fascination with upstarts, bootstrappers, and
innovators reflects ideals of independence, improvement, and a better tomorrow. Yet history reveals another
story: a distinct and powerful small business mythology at the heart of modern political life. Beginning in the
late 1970s, the adulation of small businesses acquired a new and important role in modern capitalist countries.
In particular, the Reaganite and Thatcherite movements turned to celebrate small business as a stalking horse
to advance the very kind of economy that handicapped upstarts and small independent proprietors and
privileged big national and multinational corporations.

Although love for small business may seem like a timeless feature of capitalism, the widespread belief that
small entrepreneurs hold the keys to economic revival is relatively recent. . . A key moment in the modern myth-
making around small business came in 1978. That’s when MIT economist David Birch published claims that
small firms had accounted for 80 per cent of all new employment opportunities between 1968 and 1976. Critics
quickly pointed out that Birch’s findings were quite wrong, largely because he defined firm size according to how
many employees worked in a given location (like a branch office, factory, or store), not how many the firm
employed altogether. Most job creation, in the 1970s and today, comes from a small number of very fast-
growing firms, while most small firms either fail (killing jobs) or remain small. . .

Small business is among the most powerful symbols of modern capitalism. Small business owners are
frequently described as virtuous, self-reliant, and independent – the same characteristics. . . Like many powerful
symbols, small business is notoriously hard to define. When creating the Small Business Administration (SBA)
in 1953, the US government officially defined one as ‘independently owned and operated and. ..not dominant in
its field of operation’. To qualify for an SBA loan, US manufacturers must have fewer than 500 employees, and
non-manufacturers must have annual receipts below $7.5 million. More qualitative traits – like the absence of
managerial hierarchies, less formalised labour relations, and closer ties to local communities – also influence
how some scholars define small businesses. To make things more complicated, ‘small business’ covers a
diverse range of business functions, counting everyone from the small-town dry cleaner to the wealthy software
start-up. . .

Historically, however, ‘small business’ did not exist in any meaningful sense until the advent of ‘Big Business’ in
the late 19th century. Before the emergence of large, vertically integrated, and diversified corporations, ‘small
business’ was everywhere and nowhere, and no one spoke on its behalf. Steel, oil, sugar, and cigarette
producers emerged as the first Big Businesses, and in 1890 the Sherman Act inaugurated the American anti-
trust policy to protect smaller competitors from their monopolistic practices.

Q.9 [11831809]
“In particular, the Reaganite and Thatcherite movements turned to celebrate small business as a stalking horse
to advance the very kind of economy that handicapped upstarts and small independent proprietors and
privileged big national and multinational corporations.” In this sentence, the author uses the phrase "small
business as a stalking horse" to suggest that the Reaganite and Thatcherite movements’ celebration of small
business is:
1 something that positively impacted the movements

2 an economic stimulus during the movements

3 a deception that is used by the movements

4 a correction in the economy made during the movements

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 3
Your Answer : 1
Correct Answer – (3)
Stalking horse: A person or thing that is used to conceal someone's real intentions. So, in the context of the
passage, would be a tool of deception for steering the direction of the Reaganite and Thatcherite movements.
Option 3, therefore, is correct.
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Direction (9-12): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

Small business is the hero of modern capitalism. Owners of small firms are the virtuous strivers, the job
creators and the plucky entrepreneurs who drive the economy. . . The proverbial Main Street proprietors get a lot
of love in a world of international conglomerates and global capital.

For all the enthusiasm, a central puzzle remains: what is the role of small businesses in the economy? Is looking
out for small businesses a progressive goal? Surely, the public fascination with upstarts, bootstrappers, and
innovators reflects ideals of independence, improvement, and a better tomorrow. Yet history reveals another
story: a distinct and powerful small business mythology at the heart of modern political life. Beginning in the
late 1970s, the adulation of small businesses acquired a new and important role in modern capitalist countries.
In particular, the Reaganite and Thatcherite movements turned to celebrate small business as a stalking horse
to advance the very kind of economy that handicapped upstarts and small independent proprietors and
privileged big national and multinational corporations.

Although love for small business may seem like a timeless feature of capitalism, the widespread belief that
small entrepreneurs hold the keys to economic revival is relatively recent. . . A key moment in the modern myth-
making around small business came in 1978. That’s when MIT economist David Birch published claims that
small firms had accounted for 80 per cent of all new employment opportunities between 1968 and 1976. Critics
quickly pointed out that Birch’s findings were quite wrong, largely because he defined firm size according to how
many employees worked in a given location (like a branch office, factory, or store), not how many the firm
employed altogether. Most job creation, in the 1970s and today, comes from a small number of very fast-
growing firms, while most small firms either fail (killing jobs) or remain small. . .

Small business is among the most powerful symbols of modern capitalism. Small business owners are
frequently described as virtuous, self-reliant, and independent – the same characteristics. . . Like many powerful
symbols, small business is notoriously hard to define. When creating the Small Business Administration (SBA)
in 1953, the US government officially defined one as ‘independently owned and operated and. ..not dominant in
its field of operation’. To qualify for an SBA loan, US manufacturers must have fewer than 500 employees, and
non-manufacturers must have annual receipts below $7.5 million. More qualitative traits – like the absence of
managerial hierarchies, less formalised labour relations, and closer ties to local communities – also influence
how some scholars define small businesses. To make things more complicated, ‘small business’ covers a
diverse range of business functions, counting everyone from the small-town dry cleaner to the wealthy software
start-up. . .

Historically, however, ‘small business’ did not exist in any meaningful sense until the advent of ‘Big Business’ in
the late 19th century. Before the emergence of large, vertically integrated, and diversified corporations, ‘small
business’ was everywhere and nowhere, and no one spoke on its behalf. Steel, oil, sugar, and cigarette
producers emerged as the first Big Businesses, and in 1890 the Sherman Act inaugurated the American anti-
trust policy to protect smaller competitors from their monopolistic practices.

Q.10 [11831809]
The author alludes to the Sherman Act of 1890 to argue which one of the following?

1 The concept of a small business needs to be rethought to consider the inaccuracies that have been
uncovered.
2 Big businesses, such as oil, gas, and cigarettes, were instrumental in developing small businesses.

3 Monopolistic business practices are used by big businesses to compete with and destroy smaller firms.

4 A useful idea of small business is a consequence of the idea of big business in the late 19th century.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 4
Your Answer : 3
Correct Answer – (4)
The author has mentioned the Sherman Act of 1080 to support the prime argument of the last paragraph, i.e.
the idea of ‘small business’ came into existence only when people started recognizing the ill effects of the
monopolistic policies of the ‘big businesses’ that existed during the late 19th century. It would be incorrect to
assert that the big businesses of the 19th century contributed to the ‘creation or development’ of small
businesses.
Option 4: Correct as per the explanation given above.
Incorrect options:
Option 1: Completely out of the scope of the passage.
Option 2: Incorrect, as explained above.
Option 3: It states a possible fact about big businesses, but that is not a concern of the last paragraph.
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Direction (9-12): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

Small business is the hero of modern capitalism. Owners of small firms are the virtuous strivers, the job
creators and the plucky entrepreneurs who drive the economy. . . The proverbial Main Street proprietors get a lot
of love in a world of international conglomerates and global capital.

For all the enthusiasm, a central puzzle remains: what is the role of small businesses in the economy? Is looking
out for small businesses a progressive goal? Surely, the public fascination with upstarts, bootstrappers, and
innovators reflects ideals of independence, improvement, and a better tomorrow. Yet history reveals another
story: a distinct and powerful small business mythology at the heart of modern political life. Beginning in the
late 1970s, the adulation of small businesses acquired a new and important role in modern capitalist countries.
In particular, the Reaganite and Thatcherite movements turned to celebrate small business as a stalking horse
to advance the very kind of economy that handicapped upstarts and small independent proprietors and
privileged big national and multinational corporations.

Although love for small business may seem like a timeless feature of capitalism, the widespread belief that
small entrepreneurs hold the keys to economic revival is relatively recent. . . A key moment in the modern myth-
making around small business came in 1978. That’s when MIT economist David Birch published claims that
small firms had accounted for 80 per cent of all new employment opportunities between 1968 and 1976. Critics
quickly pointed out that Birch’s findings were quite wrong, largely because he defined firm size according to how
many employees worked in a given location (like a branch office, factory, or store), not how many the firm
employed altogether. Most job creation, in the 1970s and today, comes from a small number of very fast-
growing firms, while most small firms either fail (killing jobs) or remain small. . .

Small business is among the most powerful symbols of modern capitalism. Small business owners are
frequently described as virtuous, self-reliant, and independent – the same characteristics. . . Like many powerful
symbols, small business is notoriously hard to define. When creating the Small Business Administration (SBA)
in 1953, the US government officially defined one as ‘independently owned and operated and. ..not dominant in
its field of operation’. To qualify for an SBA loan, US manufacturers must have fewer than 500 employees, and
non-manufacturers must have annual receipts below $7.5 million. More qualitative traits – like the absence of
managerial hierarchies, less formalised labour relations, and closer ties to local communities – also influence
how some scholars define small businesses. To make things more complicated, ‘small business’ covers a
diverse range of business functions, counting everyone from the small-town dry cleaner to the wealthy software
start-up. . .

Historically, however, ‘small business’ did not exist in any meaningful sense until the advent of ‘Big Business’ in
the late 19th century. Before the emergence of large, vertically integrated, and diversified corporations, ‘small
business’ was everywhere and nowhere, and no one spoke on its behalf. Steel, oil, sugar, and cigarette
producers emerged as the first Big Businesses, and in 1890 the Sherman Act inaugurated the American anti-
trust policy to protect smaller competitors from their monopolistic practices.

Q.11 [11831809]
The author mentions each of the following as a reason why small business is hard to define EXCEPT:

1 the capitalistic system that idolizes small businesses

2 the government does not have consistent criteria for small business
3 the lack of organizational hierarchy in small businesses

4 the wide range of businesses that are covered under the small business

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 1
Your Answer : 1
Correct Answer – (1)
Option 1: Nowhere in the passage has the author stated option 1.
Incorrect options:
Option 3 and option 4: Each of them has been stated in these lines of the passage: ‘More qualitative traits –
like the absence of managerial hierarchies, less formalised labour relations, and closer ties to local
communities – also influence how some scholars define small businesses. To make things more complicated,
‘small business’ covers a diverse range of business functions, counting everyone from the small-town dry
cleaner to the wealthy software start-up’
Option 2: It is stated in the second last paragraph of the passage.
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Direction (9-12): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

Small business is the hero of modern capitalism. Owners of small firms are the virtuous strivers, the job
creators and the plucky entrepreneurs who drive the economy. . . The proverbial Main Street proprietors get a lot
of love in a world of international conglomerates and global capital.

For all the enthusiasm, a central puzzle remains: what is the role of small businesses in the economy? Is looking
out for small businesses a progressive goal? Surely, the public fascination with upstarts, bootstrappers, and
innovators reflects ideals of independence, improvement, and a better tomorrow. Yet history reveals another
story: a distinct and powerful small business mythology at the heart of modern political life. Beginning in the
late 1970s, the adulation of small businesses acquired a new and important role in modern capitalist countries.
In particular, the Reaganite and Thatcherite movements turned to celebrate small business as a stalking horse
to advance the very kind of economy that handicapped upstarts and small independent proprietors and
privileged big national and multinational corporations.

Although love for small business may seem like a timeless feature of capitalism, the widespread belief that
small entrepreneurs hold the keys to economic revival is relatively recent. . . A key moment in the modern myth-
making around small business came in 1978. That’s when MIT economist David Birch published claims that
small firms had accounted for 80 per cent of all new employment opportunities between 1968 and 1976. Critics
quickly pointed out that Birch’s findings were quite wrong, largely because he defined firm size according to how
many employees worked in a given location (like a branch office, factory, or store), not how many the firm
employed altogether. Most job creation, in the 1970s and today, comes from a small number of very fast-
growing firms, while most small firms either fail (killing jobs) or remain small. . .

Small business is among the most powerful symbols of modern capitalism. Small business owners are
frequently described as virtuous, self-reliant, and independent – the same characteristics. . . Like many powerful
symbols, small business is notoriously hard to define. When creating the Small Business Administration (SBA)
in 1953, the US government officially defined one as ‘independently owned and operated and. ..not dominant in
its field of operation’. To qualify for an SBA loan, US manufacturers must have fewer than 500 employees, and
non-manufacturers must have annual receipts below $7.5 million. More qualitative traits – like the absence of
managerial hierarchies, less formalised labour relations, and closer ties to local communities – also influence
how some scholars define small businesses. To make things more complicated, ‘small business’ covers a
diverse range of business functions, counting everyone from the small-town dry cleaner to the wealthy software
start-up. . .

Historically, however, ‘small business’ did not exist in any meaningful sense until the advent of ‘Big Business’ in
the late 19th century. Before the emergence of large, vertically integrated, and diversified corporations, ‘small
business’ was everywhere and nowhere, and no one spoke on its behalf. Steel, oil, sugar, and cigarette
producers emerged as the first Big Businesses, and in 1890 the Sherman Act inaugurated the American anti-
trust policy to protect smaller competitors from their monopolistic practices.

Q.12 [11831809]
Each of the following is a concern the author raises regarding small business EXCEPT that:

1 small businesses have been unfairly treated by big corporations.

2 some economists inaccurately attributed job creation to small businesses.

3 there is no accurate way of defining what constitutes a small business.

4 the mythology of a powerful small business has been used for political reasons.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 1
Your Answer : 4
Correct Answer – (1)
Option 1: The author has not stated such a concern in the passage.
Incorrect options:
Option 2: It has been stated through these lines of the passage: ‘That’s when MIT economist David Birch
published claims that small firms had accounted for 80 per cent of all new employment opportunities between
1968 and 1976. Critics quickly pointed out that Birch’s findings were quite wrong, largely because he defined
firm size according to how many employees worked in a given location (like a branch office, factory, or store),
not how many the firm employed altogether.’
Option 3: It makes the central idea of the second last paragraph.
Option 4: It has been stated through these lines of the passage: ‘Yet history reveals another story: a distinct
and powerful small business mythology at the heart of modern political life.’
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Direction (13-16): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

It all started with an innocuous TikTok video posted by a high school student named Gracie Cunningham.
Applying make-up while speaking into the camera, the teenager questioned whether math is “real.” She added: “I
know it’s real, because we all learn it in school... but who came up with this concept….

Cunningham had unwittingly re-ignited a very ancient and unresolved debate in the philosophy of science. What,
exactly, is math? Is it invented, or discovered? And are the things that mathematicians work with—numbers,
algebraic equations, geometry and so on—real?

Some scholars feel very strongly that mathematical truths are “out there,” waiting to be discovered—a position
known as Platonism. It takes its name from the ancient Greek thinker Plato, who imagined that mathematical
truths inhabit a world of their own—not a physical world, but rather a non-physical realm of unchanging
perfection; a realm that exists outside of space and time. Many mathematicians seem to support this view. The
things they’ve discovered over the centuries…..seem to be eternal truths, independent of the minds that found
them.

Other scholars—especially those working in other branches of science—view Platonism with scepticism.
Scientists tend to be empiricists; they imagine the universe to be made up of things we can touch and taste and
so on….

Platonism has various alternatives. One popular view is that mathematics is merely a set of rules, built up from
a set of initial assumptions—what mathematicians call axioms. Once the axioms are in place, a vast array of
logical deductions follow, though many of these can be fiendishly difficult to find. In this view, mathematics
seems much more like an invention than a discovery; at the very least, it seems like a much more human-centric
endeavour……..

But this view has its own problems. If mathematics is just something we dream up from within our own heads,
why should it “fit” so well with what we observe in nature? Why should a chain reaction in nuclear physics, or
population growth in biology, follow an exponential curve? Why does the Fibonacci sequence turn up in the
patterns seen in sunflowers, snails, hurricanes, and spiral galaxies? Why, in a nutshell, has mathematics proven
so staggeringly useful in describing the physical world? Theoretical physicist Eugene Wigner highlighted this
issue in a famous 1960 essay and concluded that the usefulness of mathematics in tackling problems in
physics “is a wonderful gift which we neither understand nor deserve.”………

Given that these questions about the nature of mathematics have been the subject of often heated debate for
some 2,300 years, it’s unlikely they’ll go away anytime soon. No wonder, then, that high school students like
Cunningham might pause to consider them as well.

Q.13 [11831809]
Which of the following statement/s will strengthen the argument of the Platonist scholars? (Inference based)
I) Discoveries like there is no highest prime number makes math equivalent to eternal truth
II) If we were to one day encounter intelligent aliens from another galaxy, they might very well have made the
same mathematical discoveries as us.
III) If mathematical objects exist outside of space and time, how is it that we can know anything about them?

1 Only I
2 Both I and III

3 Only II

4 Both I and II

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 4
Your Answer : 2
The key arguments of the proponents of Platonism are:
1. Mathematical truths inhabit a world of their own non-physical realm of unchanging perfection; a realm that
exists outside of space and time.
2. The output of mathematical endeavours is always an eternal truth, independent of the minds that found
them.
To weaken the arguments of Platonism, a counter argument should question at least any one of these two
ideas of Platonism. Conversely, to strengthen Platonism, its ideas need to be upheld.
Statement I: It provides evidence for the second key idea of Platonism.
Statement II: It shows that the rules and axioms of mathematics remain unchanged even for aliens, which
confirms the unchanging and perfect nature of mathematical truths. Therefore, statement II supports the first
key idea of Platonism.
Statement III: It raises question about the claim that mathematical truths exist outside of space and time.
Therefore, option D is the correct answer.
Bookmark FeedBack
Direction (13-16): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

It all started with an innocuous TikTok video posted by a high school student named Gracie Cunningham.
Applying make-up while speaking into the camera, the teenager questioned whether math is “real.” She added: “I
know it’s real, because we all learn it in school... but who came up with this concept….

Cunningham had unwittingly re-ignited a very ancient and unresolved debate in the philosophy of science. What,
exactly, is math? Is it invented, or discovered? And are the things that mathematicians work with—numbers,
algebraic equations, geometry and so on—real?

Some scholars feel very strongly that mathematical truths are “out there,” waiting to be discovered—a position
known as Platonism. It takes its name from the ancient Greek thinker Plato, who imagined that mathematical
truths inhabit a world of their own—not a physical world, but rather a non-physical realm of unchanging
perfection; a realm that exists outside of space and time. Many mathematicians seem to support this view. The
things they’ve discovered over the centuries…..seem to be eternal truths, independent of the minds that found
them.

Other scholars—especially those working in other branches of science—view Platonism with scepticism.
Scientists tend to be empiricists; they imagine the universe to be made up of things we can touch and taste and
so on….

Platonism has various alternatives. One popular view is that mathematics is merely a set of rules, built up from
a set of initial assumptions—what mathematicians call axioms. Once the axioms are in place, a vast array of
logical deductions follow, though many of these can be fiendishly difficult to find. In this view, mathematics
seems much more like an invention than a discovery; at the very least, it seems like a much more human-centric
endeavour……..

But this view has its own problems. If mathematics is just something we dream up from within our own heads,
why should it “fit” so well with what we observe in nature? Why should a chain reaction in nuclear physics, or
population growth in biology, follow an exponential curve? Why does the Fibonacci sequence turn up in the
patterns seen in sunflowers, snails, hurricanes, and spiral galaxies? Why, in a nutshell, has mathematics proven
so staggeringly useful in describing the physical world? Theoretical physicist Eugene Wigner highlighted this
issue in a famous 1960 essay and concluded that the usefulness of mathematics in tackling problems in
physics “is a wonderful gift which we neither understand nor deserve.”………

Given that these questions about the nature of mathematics have been the subject of often heated debate for
some 2,300 years, it’s unlikely they’ll go away anytime soon. No wonder, then, that high school students like
Cunningham might pause to consider them as well.

Q.14 [11831809]
Which of the following is untrue as per the passage?

1 There are several phenomena around us which can be described using Math.

2 Gracie Cunningham believes that math is unreal.

3 Eugene Wigner believes that Math should not be used in tackling problems in physics.
4 Author empathises with Gracie Cunningham for raising a debatable question on Math.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 2
Your Answer : 2
Option 2: It cannot be inferred from the passage.
Incorrect options:
Option 1: It can be inferred from these lines of the passage: ‘But this view has its own problems. If
mathematics is just something we dream up from within our own heads, why should it “fit” so well with what
we observe in nature? Why should a chain reaction in nuclear physics, or population growth in biology, follow
an exponential curve? Why does the Fibonacci sequence turn up in the patterns seen in sunflowers, snails,
hurricanes, and spiral galaxies? Why, in a nutshell, has mathematics proven so staggeringly useful in
describing the physical world?’
Option 3: It can be inferred from these lines of the passage: ‘Theoretical physicist Eugene Wigner highlighted
this issue in a famous 1960 essay and concluded that the usefulness of mathematics in tackling problems in
physics “is a wonderful gift which we neither understand nor deserve.”’
Option 4: It can be inferred from these lines of the passage: ‘Cunningham had unwittingly re-ignited a very
ancient and unresolved debate in the philosophy of science ... No wonder, then, that high school students like
Cunningham might pause to consider them as well.’
Bookmark FeedBack
Direction (13-16): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

It all started with an innocuous TikTok video posted by a high school student named Gracie Cunningham.
Applying make-up while speaking into the camera, the teenager questioned whether math is “real.” She added: “I
know it’s real, because we all learn it in school... but who came up with this concept….

Cunningham had unwittingly re-ignited a very ancient and unresolved debate in the philosophy of science. What,
exactly, is math? Is it invented, or discovered? And are the things that mathematicians work with—numbers,
algebraic equations, geometry and so on—real?

Some scholars feel very strongly that mathematical truths are “out there,” waiting to be discovered—a position
known as Platonism. It takes its name from the ancient Greek thinker Plato, who imagined that mathematical
truths inhabit a world of their own—not a physical world, but rather a non-physical realm of unchanging
perfection; a realm that exists outside of space and time. Many mathematicians seem to support this view. The
things they’ve discovered over the centuries…..seem to be eternal truths, independent of the minds that found
them.

Other scholars—especially those working in other branches of science—view Platonism with scepticism.
Scientists tend to be empiricists; they imagine the universe to be made up of things we can touch and taste and
so on….

Platonism has various alternatives. One popular view is that mathematics is merely a set of rules, built up from
a set of initial assumptions—what mathematicians call axioms. Once the axioms are in place, a vast array of
logical deductions follow, though many of these can be fiendishly difficult to find. In this view, mathematics
seems much more like an invention than a discovery; at the very least, it seems like a much more human-centric
endeavour……..

But this view has its own problems. If mathematics is just something we dream up from within our own heads,
why should it “fit” so well with what we observe in nature? Why should a chain reaction in nuclear physics, or
population growth in biology, follow an exponential curve? Why does the Fibonacci sequence turn up in the
patterns seen in sunflowers, snails, hurricanes, and spiral galaxies? Why, in a nutshell, has mathematics proven
so staggeringly useful in describing the physical world? Theoretical physicist Eugene Wigner highlighted this
issue in a famous 1960 essay and concluded that the usefulness of mathematics in tackling problems in
physics “is a wonderful gift which we neither understand nor deserve.”………

Given that these questions about the nature of mathematics have been the subject of often heated debate for
some 2,300 years, it’s unlikely they’ll go away anytime soon. No wonder, then, that high school students like
Cunningham might pause to consider them as well.

Q.15 [11831809]
Which of the following, if true, resolves the issue raised by Eugene Wigner?

1 Mathematics can be seen as a series of deductions that stem from a small set of axioms.

2 The axioms on which math is built are chosen based on the fact that they have something to do with the
physical world.
3 There are several scientists who claim that mathematics is spectacularly useful for doing science,
particularly physics.

4 All of the above

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 2
Your Answer : 4
Option 2: It states that there exists a relationship between mathematical axioms
and their manifestations in physical world. Therefore, this option delivers an answer to the question raised by
Eugene Wigner.
Incorrect options:
Options 1 and 3, by no means, provide an explanation to the concern of Eugene Wigner.
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Direction (13-16): Study the following information and answer the questions that follow:

It all started with an innocuous TikTok video posted by a high school student named Gracie Cunningham.
Applying make-up while speaking into the camera, the teenager questioned whether math is “real.” She added: “I
know it’s real, because we all learn it in school... but who came up with this concept….

Cunningham had unwittingly re-ignited a very ancient and unresolved debate in the philosophy of science. What,
exactly, is math? Is it invented, or discovered? And are the things that mathematicians work with—numbers,
algebraic equations, geometry and so on—real?

Some scholars feel very strongly that mathematical truths are “out there,” waiting to be discovered—a position
known as Platonism. It takes its name from the ancient Greek thinker Plato, who imagined that mathematical
truths inhabit a world of their own—not a physical world, but rather a non-physical realm of unchanging
perfection; a realm that exists outside of space and time. Many mathematicians seem to support this view. The
things they’ve discovered over the centuries…..seem to be eternal truths, independent of the minds that found
them.

Other scholars—especially those working in other branches of science—view Platonism with scepticism.
Scientists tend to be empiricists; they imagine the universe to be made up of things we can touch and taste and
so on….

Platonism has various alternatives. One popular view is that mathematics is merely a set of rules, built up from
a set of initial assumptions—what mathematicians call axioms. Once the axioms are in place, a vast array of
logical deductions follow, though many of these can be fiendishly difficult to find. In this view, mathematics
seems much more like an invention than a discovery; at the very least, it seems like a much more human-centric
endeavour……..

But this view has its own problems. If mathematics is just something we dream up from within our own heads,
why should it “fit” so well with what we observe in nature? Why should a chain reaction in nuclear physics, or
population growth in biology, follow an exponential curve? Why does the Fibonacci sequence turn up in the
patterns seen in sunflowers, snails, hurricanes, and spiral galaxies? Why, in a nutshell, has mathematics proven
so staggeringly useful in describing the physical world? Theoretical physicist Eugene Wigner highlighted this
issue in a famous 1960 essay and concluded that the usefulness of mathematics in tackling problems in
physics “is a wonderful gift which we neither understand nor deserve.”………

Given that these questions about the nature of mathematics have been the subject of often heated debate for
some 2,300 years, it’s unlikely they’ll go away anytime soon. No wonder, then, that high school students like
Cunningham might pause to consider them as well.

Q.16 [11831809]
Which of the following best represents the flow of the ideas in the passage?

1 What is math? – Platonist view – Alternative views– Author’s view

2 Tik-tok video – Platonist view – Empiricist view – Author’s view

3 Gracie Cunningham - Math – Discovery – Invention

4 Gracie Cunningham – Platonism – Empiricism – Eugene Wigner

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 1
Your Answer : 4
In the first two paragraphs, the author introduces the question that drives the
subject of the passage, i.e. the different answers to the question ' what is mathematics?' that have been
proposed in the past.
Then the passage resorts to explaining Platonism, which is one of the popular beliefs about the birth and
nature of mathematics. Post that, the author presents a few alternatives to PLatonism.
The passage ends with the author expressing his take on the possibility of getting to know what Math really is.
Therefore, option 1 is the correct answer.
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Q.17 [11831809]
Directions for question (17): The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4) given in this question, when properly
sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper order for the sentences and key in this sequence
of four numbers as your answer.

1. Fifteen years ago, a scientist working on decision-making would have wasted little time on a perception
researcher, and someone working on mathematical cognition would have been comfortable in ignorance of the
literature on time perception.
2. It is not hard to see why: there is a seemingly endless hunger for cognitive neuroscience solutions to almost
every behavioural question.
3. Now we have a science of perceptual decision-making and investigations of generalized magnitude systems
incorporating time, space, and number.
4. As we enter what has variously been called an interdisciplinary or even post-disciplinary world, nothing
exemplifies the new connectedness of knowledge more than cognitive neuroscience.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 1342
Your Answer : 1342
Statement 1 will be the opening statement as it is a general statement that forms
the backdrop of statement 3. Statement 4 further builds on statement 3. Statement 2 will give a meaningful
paragraph only when kept at the last. Therefore, the correct sequence is 1342
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 Q.18 [11831809]
Directions for question (18): The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4) given in this question, when properly
sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper order for the sentences and keyin this sequence of
four numbers as your answer.

1. If the birth rate over that period stayed the same as it has been in the 21st Century, the unborn would
potentially be more than 62 times the number of humans that have ever lived, around 6.75 trillion people.
2. Even if we look at only the next 50,000 years, the scale of future generations could be enormous.
3. There are potentially a vast number of people ahead of us, yet to be born.
4. Given the astronomical number of people yet to exist, it would be surprising if our tiny fraction of that
population happens to be the most influential.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 3214
Your Answer : 1423
Sentence 3 opens the paragraph. Sentence 2 logically follows after because it
points towards the enormous future generations. Sentence 1 provides an additional information whereas,
sentence 4 derives a logical corollary from the previous 3 sentences. Thus, it can be safely inferred that
sentences 321 form a mandatory sequence.
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Q.19 [11831809]
Directions for question (19): The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that
best captures the author’s position.

Negative emotions like anxiety have long gotten a bad rap – irrational at best, destructive at worst. The ancient
Roman poet Horace wrote over 2,000 years ago anger is a short madness. But over the course of the past 150
years, starting with Darwin’s The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals, we have actually come to
understand that emotions like anger, fear, and anxiety are more advantageous than dangerous. Like the
opposable thumb and language, emotions are tools for survival, forged and refined over hundreds of thousands
of years of evolution to protect and ensure that humans can thrive. They do this by providing two things:
information and preparation.

1 Horace was wrong in his interpretation of negative emotions, as his views on anger suggest; the correct
interpretation of such emotions started much later with Darwin’s work.

2 Anxiety has long been considered irrational or destructive; however, like any other emotion, it is a tool for
survival, as it helps by providing information and preparation.

3 Some emotions that were once considered irrational or destructive are now regarded as tools that inform
and prepare humans to survive and thrive.
4 Once regarded as disadvantageous, negative emotions are actually advantageous as they provide
information and preparation, which in turn helps humans to survive and flourish.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 4
Your Answer : 3
The main point of the paragraph is that negative emotions have long been
considered disadvantageous but we are slowly understanding their importance in the survival of humans.
These emotions do this by providing two things – information and preparation.

Incorrect Answers:
1 – The passage is not focused on comparing or critiquing the works of anyone. These examples have been
given to make a point about the changing perceptions regarding negative emotions.
2 – ‘Any other emotion’ goes beyond the scope of the discussion.
3 – The discussion is in the context of negative emotions only.
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Q.20 [11831809]
Directions for question (20): Five sentences related to a topic are given below. Four of them can be put together
to form a meaningful and coherent short paragraph. Identify the odd one out.

1. The touchstone of making decisions as management is always the ‘Customer Experience’.

2. If the customer senses a falling of standards as a result of having a moonlighting worker, whether contractual
or gig, then the company needs to act.
3. As long as customers see no lack of quality levels when a moonlighting worker is performing the task they
need, then there are fewer questions to worry about other than, of course, the big one of keeping company
secrets.
4. The responsibility for spotting this lies with overburdened line managers because it is they who can figure out
whether their customers are sensing a lack of quality on account of a moonlighting worker.
5. That is where decisions have to be made.


Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 3
Your Answer : 3
3 is the odd one out here since it makes it about company secrest and steers from
the concept of efficiency and standard.
1 and 2 are mandatory pairs and 1 is the opening sentence as it introduces the theme of ‘Customer
Expereince’ while 2 provides the context within which it is made. 5 concludes the paragraph by providing the
necessity for decision making.
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Q.21 [11831809]
Directions for question (21):The four sentences (labelled 1, 2, 3, and 4) given in this question, when properly
sequenced, form a coherent paragraph. Decide on the proper order for the sentences and key in this sequence
of four numbers as your answer.

1. Despite abundant precautions, the use of solvents inevitably contaminates our environment, including air, soil,
and water, because they are inherently difficult to contain and recycle.
2. These approaches have their drawbacks and limitations, necessitating a contamination preventive approach
and the search for environmentally benign so-called green solvents.
3. Opportunities for the practical implementation of such solvents in sustainable chemistry are reviewed by
DeSimone.
4. Both academic and industrial researchers have therefore focused on minimizing solvent consumption
through the development of solvent-free processes and more efficient solvent recovery and recycling
methodologies.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 1423
Your Answer : 3214
Statement 1 will be the opening statement as it is a general statement that
introduces the subject of the paragraph which is about certain solvents. Statement 1 states that certain
solvents pollute the environment. And statement 4 presents a response from scientists seeking a solution to
the problem stated in statement 1. Statement 2 talks about certain 'approaches' that refer back to
'methodologies' mentioned in statement 4. Therefore, 142 will be the correct sequence. Statement 3 will
follow statement 2 as 'such solvents' in statement 3 refers back to the 'green solvents' mentioned in statement
2. So, the correct seuquence will be 1423
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 Q.22 [11831809]
Directions for question (22): The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that
best captures the author’s position.

Demographic information on those injured and killed by earthquake-related injuries indicates there are
fundamental population characteristics which influence survival outcomes. The risk of earthquake death
increases with age and with the presence of disabilities for both adult women and men. The risk also increases
as age decreases below age 16, especially in less developed nations. Those with lower socioeconomic status
are at increased risk of death, and data suggests if their dwelling collapses, they are less likely to survive. Those
with mental or physical disabilities, as well as those with physical illnesses, are also less likely to survive a
serious earthquake.

1 Demographic data reveals that core population characteristics influence the outcomes of earthquake-
related injuries; for instance, the risk of death is associated with the victim’s age, the presence of disabilities,
and socioeconomic status.

2 The fundamental population features impact survival outcomes; for instance,the probability of dying in an
earthquake rises with the victim’s age and the existence of any handicap, and there is evidence that this risk is
amplified if their dwelling becomes unstable.

3 The probability of dying in an earthquake is high in less developed nations; for instance, there are core
population features that impact survival outcomes, according to the demographic statistics on people wounded
and died by earthquake-related injuries.

4 One of the key parameters influencing the outcome of the aftermath of earthquakes is population
demographics; for instance, the population’s aged population, physical health, and the population’s
socioeconomic status impact the outcome.

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 1
Your Answer : 1
The paragraph is focused on making a key observation - there are fundamental
population characteristics which influence survival outcomes. Then some of these characteristics have been
mentioned to elucidate the point. Only option (1) captures this core argument.

Incorrect Answers:
2 – No correlation has been established between age, physical disability and the stability of the place of
dwelling.
3 and 4 – Both these options distort and generalize the observations made in the paragraph.
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 Q.23 [11831809]
Directions for question (23): Five jumbled up sentences related to a topic is given below. Four of them can be
put together to form a coherent paragraph. Identify the odd one out and key in the number of the sentence as
your answer.

1. Can science teach us anything about religion, or at the least whether it is necessary to have religion?
2. Stepping beyond the forever-contentious arena of science vs. religion, the question of completeness stands
at the centre of hard-core philosophical debates about the nature of the world and our access to it.
3. Is science complete and unitary?
4. This question strikes at the heart of much of the debate between science and religion, as atheists argue that
the explanatory powers of science make religion irrelevant.
5. Does it offer an overarching and all-inclusive description of reality, reaching from the foundations of space-
time to the self-illuminating capacities of consciousness?

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 1
Your Answer : 5
1 is the odd one since it wants science to validate religion while the paragraph is
about stepping beyond science-religion. 3 and 5 are mandatory pairs while 3 opens the paragraph with the
question that forms the theme of the paragraph. 2 concludes it by positing the questions within a context.
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Q.24 [11831809]
Directions for question (24): The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that
best captures the author’s position.

The Constitution of the German Reich (German Empire), known as the Weimar Constitution, was the
constitution that governed Germany during 1919–1933. In public law, it was for several years an open question
whether the Weimar constitution was valid during Nazi Germany (1933–1945). Although it was never formally
invalidated, it was displaced by new ‘basic laws,’ including the program of the Nazi Party. Basic rights were
eliminated through the Verordnung des Reichspräsidentenzum Schutz von Volk und Staat of February 28, 1933.
The federal structure of the Weimar Republic was destroyed. Political power was centralized in the Reich
authorities, with Hitler on top as the Führer and Reichskanzler in one person after August 1, 1934.

1 Weimar Constitution was annulled during Nazi Germany, and draconian laws were introduced by Hitler.

2 During Nazi Germany, Weimar Constitution was destroyed, and Reich authorities centralized the power.

3 Weimar Constitution was not officially overturned, but its tenets were dismantled during Nazi Germany.

4 During Nazi Germany, Weimar Constitution was replaced with the program of Hitler’s Nazi party.
 

Solution:
 Answer key/Solution
Correct Answer : 3
Your Answer : 3
Option (3) offers the best summary of the given passage. The passage tells us
about the Weimar Constitution and how it never got invalidated completely.

Incorrect answers
Option (1) cannot be the answer because the second part of the sentence is incorrect.
Option (2) cannot be the answer because it is factually incorrect. The Weimar Constitution was never
destroyed completely.
Option (4) cannot be the answer because it is narrow in scope.
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